BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - In a game when the legendary Ichiro Suzuki was present, Japan secured a 9-6 win against Chinese Taipei, marking their 27th consecutive victory in international competitions. This took place on the final day of the Super Round of the WBSC Premier12, presented by RAXUS, at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō City, Tokyo, on Saturday night. Box score In a sold-out match, Japan once more triumphed over Chinese Taipei, progressing as the sole undefeated team to the tournament final, aiming to reclaim the title they secured in 2019. This marks the Japanese team's second consecutive final, achieved impressively by averaging nine runs per game during the tournament's final stage, ensuring their status as the world's best team, regardless of Sunday's outcome. The final perfectly mirrored the WBSC world rankings, as Chinese Taipei, once considered a surprise, proved its standing as the world's second-ranked team by reaching its first Premier12 final. It is also the top performance by a senior team from Taipei in international baseball since reaching the final of the 1992 Olympic Games baseball tournament in Barcelona, Spain. The Taipei team astonished everyone by opting not to start with their star left-hander Lin Yu-min, who was due to pitch according to the rules and had been announced. Instead, they replaced him with right-hander Chen Po-ching. This unforeseen change led to a protest from the Japanese team, resulting in a $3000 fine for the Taipei team at the game's conclusion. During the press conference, the Taiwanese team's manager, Hao-Jiu Tseng, justified his decision by stating, "Our aim is to enter tomorrow's game in optimal condition. This is why we opted for the change." The pitching change was immediately evident when Japan assembled a four-run rally in the bottom of the first inning against an anxious Chen. Murabayashi Itsuki initiated it all with a solo home run on just the third pitch he faced. A walk to Toshiya Sato, a hit by pitch to Ryosuke Tatsumi, and an RBI double from Shota Morishita brought in three runs. A sacrifice fly by Kotaro Kurebayashi secured the 4-0 lead, leading to Chen's exit from the game. Taipei faced left-handed starter Takahisa Hayakawa and managed to score their first run in the top of the third inning. Lin Li got on base with a walk, followed by Tseng Song-en hitting an RBI double to left field. Two innings later, Taipei narrowed the gap to one and nearly took the lead. Hayakawa's consecutive walks at the start of the inning and a single by Lin Li made it 4-2. Two additional walks pushed the score to 4-3, leaving the bases loaded with no outs. Japan decided to use their bullpen, and the choice was effective when right-hander Tatsuya Shimizu induced first baseman Chieh-Kai Pan to ground out back to him. Shimizu forced the third base runner at home, and the catcher finished the double play with Pan at first base. Shortly after, Shimizu concluded his remarkable performance by striking out Kun-Yu Chiang. As it has consistently done throughout the tournament, Japan effectively countered its opponents' attempts at a comeback. In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded against right-handed reliever Chun-Lin Kuo, third baseman Kotaro Kiyomiya hit a triple to center field, clearing the bases and increasing Samurai Japan's lead to 7-3. "It was a tough game, but the four runs in the first inning were crucial," Japan's manager Hirokazu Ibata commented during the press conference. "Even though they caught us during the game, we were able to regain the lead and walk comfortably from that point on." In the sixth inning, Taipei once more reduced the deficit to two, as a single followed by consecutive doubles from Cheng-Yu Chang and Chih-Cheng Chiu brought the score to 7-5. Nevertheless, Japan once more prevented any opportunity for a comeback, as in the bottom of the sixth, two singles and a double by Ryosuke Tatsumi restored their four-run lead, making it 9-5. In the ninth inning, An-Ko Lin contributed the visitors' last run by hitting a home run to right field off closer Rikuto Yokoyama, setting the final score at 9-6. Although they lost, the Taipei coach chose not to emphasize it, understanding that the true challenge lies ahead this Sunday. "Tonight was fantastic," stated Hao-Jiu Tseng. "I sincerely thank our fans and the Japanese fans for creating such a positive atmosphere." And he was absolutely right, the atmosphere this Saturday at the Tokyo Dome was on another level, but it could get better, when both teams dispute the title of the tournament this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (local time), 5:00 a.m. (Cuba and Eastern US time). For Japan, reaching the final appears routine, whereas for Chinese Taipei, it's a historic moment, marking their first international final in 32 years. The two teams recently faced off in the final of a regional event less than a year ago, when Japan secured a 1-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the Asian Championship final on December 10, 2023. CHINESE TAIPEI - JAPAN - Highlights USA 6, Venezuela 5 In the first game of the day, which ended up defining the advance of Chinese Taipei to the final, Team USA defeated Venezuela 6-5, recording its first victory of the Super Round in a hard-fought match. Box score It was a game where the Venezuelans made a tremendous comeback after being down 5-0 in the sixth inning. The Americans scored five runs against Venezuela, with two runs off starter Jesús Vargas and another three against the second reliever, Anthony Vizcaya, establishing an early 5-0 lead after five and a half innings. However, following the exit of American starter Touki Toussaint, who pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four, and the first reliever, Antonio Menéndez, Venezuela gradually chipped away at the lead with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh innings. Then, in the eighth inning, pinch hitter Diego Castillo tied the game with a three-run homer, igniting excitement on the Venezuelan bench. "I had been looking forward to that at-bat. I couldn't wait to get my chance in this game. When I walked up to the plate, I was looking for a good pitch to hit," Castillo said at the postgame press conference. But the joy was short-lived. In the top of the ninth inning, designated hitter Ryan Ward decided the game, hitting a solo shot off Venezuelan closer Enderson Franco. "He threw me a changeup first," Ward said after the game. "I got a good look at it and sat on that pitch. I had already missed one, but I managed to hit the next one that was in the zone. It was the greatest moment of my life and I was able to share it with my teammates. Running around the bases was incredible." History could repeat itself again, when both teams battle with greater intensity for third place in this Premier12, starting on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (local time), 10:00 p.m. (Cuba and Eastern US time). Team USA aims to return to the winners' podium in these tournaments following its second-place finish in the 2015 inaugural edition. Meanwhile, Venezuela looks to enhance its already solid fourth-place standing, having previously finished seventh in 2019 and tenth in 2015. USA - VENEZUELA - Highlights

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - In a sold-out Tokyo Dome for the second straight night, Chinese Taipei made history, blanking defending champion Japan 4-0 to claim the biggest title in its history in international baseball with the championship of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS on Sunday night. Box score It was a historic night as Chinese Taipei not only secured its first world title but also defeated the world's top team by shutting out Japan on its home ground. This victory ended Japan's 27-game international winning streak that began in 2019 and avenged a 1-0 loss in the final of the 2023 Asian Championship. "I want to extend my congratulations to everyone and express my deep gratitude to the players, who performed excellently until the end," said Taipei manager Tseng Hao-Jiu following the game. "Competing alongside them as a manager is a great honor for me." Meanwhile, Japan's manager Hirokazu Ibata did not criticize his team or players and solely held himself accountable for the defeat. "From the first match to today, there were nine games," Ibata stated. "I believe the players performed exceptionally well. I hold myself fully accountable for not winning the final game, and I deeply regret it for the players." It turned out to be an ideal night for the victors. Taipei had all the elements in place: an excellent start from their star pitcher, left-hander Yu-Min Li, who held Samurai Japan scoreless for four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. The bullpen then performed nearly flawlessly, pitching five innings with only three hits, five strikeouts, and no walks. The essential offensive support arrived in just one inning, the fifth, where two home runs proved overwhelming for Japan. On this Sunday night, Japan couldn't defeat its opponent, despite having won against them twice in the tournament, including once merely 24 hours earlier. Chinese Taipei's victory marks the third title for Asian teams in the Premier12 tournaments, with previous wins by South Korea in 2015 and Japan in 2019. Although Japan lost, they ended the tournament with the best record, 8-1, reaffirming their global dominance and securing their third medal in consecutive Premier12 editions. At the end of the match, Chieh-Hsien Chen, the captain of Chinese Taipei and the standout player of the game, was deservedly awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Chen played a vital role not only in Sunday's victory but also consistently excelled throughout the tournament, achieving an impressive .625/.700/.917 offensive line with 15 hits, two home runs, five runs scored, and six RBIs. "I'm extremely thankful," Chen stated at the press conference. "Emerging victorious against a strong team is a highly rewarding experience for me." "Togo is an excellent pitcher, and I was familiar with him from previous encounters," he mentioned. "I was determined to win the battle and had faith in my chances." The game In the first two innings, both starting pitchers, Japan's right-hander Shoei Togo and Taipei's left-hander Yu-Min Li, appeared focused. Chinese Taipei made its initial threat in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Chen Chen-Wei drew a walk, and Lin Li hit a single to right field, advancing Chen to third base. However, Togo swiftly neutralized the threat by getting Chen Chieh-Hsien to ground out to the shortstop, which forced the runner at second base. Japan would hit their first hit leading off the bottom of the third inning, off the bat of shortstop Sosuke Genda. Keita Sano would give up the first out on a fly out to second base, but starter Yu-Min Lin would get into more trouble, walking Shogo Sakakura. However, Japan would also see their first opportunity with a runner in scoring position thwarted, when Masayuki Kuwahara struck out and the always clutch, Kaito Kozono, popped out to center for the third out. In the fourth inning, Japan began with a walk to Ryosuke Tatsumi, but Lin efficiently handled Shota Morishita, Ryoya Kurihara, and Shugo Maki consecutively. Morishita and Kurihara were both retired on fly balls to center field, while Maki was out on a grounder to second base, where Tung-Hua Yueh made an impressive diving catch to his left and threw Maki out at first. Finally, Taipei opened the scoring when Chia-Cheng Lin hit a home run deep into right field in the top of the fifth inning, igniting excitement among the large crowd of Taipei's fans in the stadium. However, this was merely the beginning of a larger rally in the inning. After Cheng-Yu Chang struck out, Chen-Wei Chen hit a single and advanced to second base following a walk to Lin Li. Togo received a visit from his coach before the next at-bat, but it didn't make a difference as Chen Chieh-Hsien hit a three-run home run to right field, securing a 4-0 lead for Taipei that they held onto for the rest of the game. After four strong innings, Lin turned the game over to the bullpen in the fifth. The left-hander delivered 69 pitches, 41 of which were strikes, allowing only one Japanese player to reach scoring position, while giving up two walks on one hit and striking out three. Most crucially, his team had provided excellent offensive backing, and it was now up to the bullpen to preserve it. In the fifth inning, reliever Chang Yi allowed two singles with two outs but prevented Japan from scoring by getting Kozono to ground out to first baseman Chief-Kai Pan. Surprisingly, this would be Japan's final significant threat in the game. For Japan, starter Togo did not come back for the sixth inning. He completed five innings, throwing 95 pitches with seven strikeouts, two walks, and allowing four runs. The fifth inning proved to be especially difficult, ranking as the two most troublesome in the game, primarily because Togo couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark, the main reason of Japan's defeat. In the sixth inning for Taipei, reliever Yi improved significantly, retiring the side in order, including strikeouts against Tatsumi and Kurihara, bringing Taipei just nine outs from securing its first world title. In the seventh, Taipei was close to knocking Japan out of the game. Chen-Wei Chen and Lin Li started the inning with singles, suggesting the team might soon increase their lead. However, reliever Shishiro Sumida thwarted the threat by striking out Chieh-Hsien Chen and An-Ko Lin. He finished the inning by getting Pan Chieh-Kai to ground out to shortstop. Although the play was initially ruled safe at first base, a video review overturned the call, confirming it as an out and maintaining the score. Meanwhile, Taipei's bullpen, featuring right-hander Chang and left-hander Kuan-Yu Chen, was tasked with minimizing Japan's offense—a team that appeared unbeatable and unstoppable prior to the final, averaging 9.5 runs in its last four games. Following Kuwahara's hit in the fifth inning, both relievers impressively retired ten consecutive batters, recording five strikeouts, mirroring the outstanding performance of the Taiwanese starter. In the ninth inning, the streak ended when Tatsumi hit a single to right off closer Cheng-Yu Chang. Chang then got Morishita to ground out, advancing Tatsumi to second. Kurihara hit a sharp line drive to first base, but the first baseman turned a double play, sparking celebrations among the players in a nation where baseball is a beloved passion. CHINESE TAIPEI - JAPAN - Highlights USA 6, Venezuela 1 Early in the afternoon for the bronze medal, Team USA disposed of Venezuela 6-1, riding on the arm of starter Casey Lawrence and the offense of Carson Williams with three RBIs. Box score The medal was the second for the Americans in Premier12 editions, following their silver medal at the inaugural edition in 2015. USA - VENEZUELA - Highlights At the end of the title game, the tournament's All-Star roster was announced, dominated basically by the four teams that advanced to the Super Round of the tournament. Cuba did not place any of its players in the All-Star roster. The next edition of the Premier12 will be in 2027, with the incentive of a larger tournament after the exponential success of the three previous editions.

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - Shugo Maki, the exuberant player and captain of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, put the finishing touches on a sixth-inning comeback with a grand slam that propelled Japan to a 9-6 victory over Venezuela in a showdown between the top two teams in the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō City, Tokyo on Friday night. Box score The home run was a wake-up call for the Venezuelans, who had kept the Japanese hitters in check for four innings and had just taken a narrow lead in the top of the sixth. This lead came from their second two-run home run of the game, hit by their cleanup hitter and designated hitter, Carlos Pérez. "Sakakura hit a home run to get us closer and then Kozono came on base with two outs. So it was more of an effort from everyone to create scoring opportunities and I think the home run was thanks to everyone's contributions," Maki said during the press conference. "When I heard the crowd roar, it was really the best feeling I had. The energy in the stadium was amazing and I'm very happy with the result," he concluded. Japan had taken an early lead in the game, sending former major league starter Ricardo Pinto back to the bench. Pinto barely got one out and was in constant trouble, getting hit hard by the middle of the Japanese lineup to plate three runs in the first inning. Kaito Kozono kicked things off by smashing the first pitch from Pinto for a double. Center fielder Ryosuke Tatsumi then hit another double off the left field wall, bringing in Kozono for the 1-0 lead. Shota Morishita added a single to center, making it 2-0, and Pinto walked Ryoya Kurihara and Maki Shugo, prompting Venezuela to bring in left-hander Johander Méndez from the bullpen. Sosuke Genda hit a grounder resulting in a force out at second base, but Venezuela couldn't complete the double play at first, allowing Morishita to score and extend the lead to 3-0. Against right-handed starter Hiroto Saiki, Venezuela made a comeback in the second inning. With one out, Herlis Rodríguez hit a single, followed by left fielder Angel Reyes hitting a two-run homer, narrowing Venezuela's deficit to 3-2. Saiki would recover, keeping the score the same for five innings, allowing only the two hits in the second inning with one walk, five strikeouts, nine whiffs in 88 pitches. And although Venezuela's bullpen held the lead until Perez's homer in the sixth, the truth is that Samurai Japan missed countless scoring opportunities, leaving seven men on base in the first three innings, including the second inning, where the bases were loaded. On this, Japanese manager Hirokazu Ibata said "We took a three-run lead, but when you miss opportunities to score more runs, that can lead to a situation like this. If we had taken advantage of those opportunities, I think the game could have been a little more comfortable." When Venezuela silenced the entire Tokyo Dome crowd by scoring three runs in the sixth inning against the first Japanese reliever, left-hander Haruto Inoue, it seemed that Japan's streak of 25 consecutive wins in international competitions would end there. However, Japan would have the answer quickly in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Shogo Sakakura initiated an impressive six-run inning with a home run to center field, narrowing Japan's deficit to 5-4. At this point, Venezuela's bullpen faced significant challenges, with coach Omar López frequently switching pitchers, using three more relievers who eventually loaded the bases. The inning's last pitcher, right-hander Pedro García, walked Kurihara, enabling Kozono to score and tie the game. The rest is history. García was unable to overpower Maki, who sealed the play with his powerful hit to left field on the second pitch he encountered. Following Inoue's rough beginning in the sixth, Japan's bullpen took over, deploying four pitchers who collectively delivered three innings, allowing just one run. They gave up five hits, three in the ninth inning, and recorded three strikeouts. Japan extended its winning streak to 26 consecutive games, and this Saturday, the team will showcase it against Chinese Taipei at 7:00 p.m. (local time), 5:00 a.m. (Cuba and Eastern U.S. time) at the Tokyo Dome. A victory over Taipei will secure Japan's place in the final of this Premier12, where they aim to defend their 2019 title. VENEZUELA - JAPAN - Highlights Chinese Taipei 8, USA 2 A day after suffering its first shutout loss at the WBSC Premier12, Taiwan bounced back with a solid 8-2 win over Team USA yesterday, keeping its hopes of a place in Sunday's final alive. Box score The Super Round victory was Chinese Taipei's first triumph over Team USA in a major international baseball tournament since 2003. The win occurred during the 2003 Baseball World Cup quarterfinals, with a score of 2-1. Additionally, this marked the third occasion in international competitions where Chinese Taipei has defeated both Cuba and the USA in the same event. The game closely resembled the earlier matchup between Venezuela and Japan, with Taipei maintaining a narrow 3-2 advantage until a significant offensive surge in the seventh inning. Facing Team USA's 36-year-old relief pitcher Spencer Patton, Taipei loaded the bases with two hits and a walk, allowing shortstop Chian Kun-Yu to smash a bases-clearing triple off the center field wall, securing a commanding 6-2 lead for the Asian team. “I was ready to take advantage of my second bases-loaded at-bat of the game,” Chian said during the press conference. He then added, “The hit was like a pill of comfort for the team.” “Everyone on this team has been doing their best, working hard for the team, for Taiwan, for the Taiwanese fans and for those who traveled to Japan to cheer us on,” he continued. “It feels like we are all united and that is an amazing feeling.” With a 2-1 lead, first baseman Pan Chie-Kai hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-1. Cheng-Yu Chang's double and Chen-Wei Chen's triple had given Taipei a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning off Team USA's first reliever, right-hander Sam Benschoter. In the bottom of the inning, Team USA responded with a single from Termarr Johnson, a double from Willie Maciver, and a sacrifice fly from Justin Cranwford. They added another run in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Colby Thomas. However, the underwhelming American team's offense was halted at just two runs, constrained by eight Taipei pitchers. From the sixth inning onward, the final four pitchers delivered four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and achieving five strikeouts. In total, Taipei struck out 10 Team USA hitters. Following the triple by Chinese Taipei, they added two more runs in the inning, completing a five-run inning that secured the final score of 8-2. The win leaves Chinese Taipei with a clear chance of reaching the final on Sunday, but to achieve this, they must defeat Samurai Japan on Saturday or wait for the Americans to beat Venezuela. Meanwhile, Team USA needs to win against Venezuela by 10 runs and hope Japan defeats Taipei, which would result in all teams, except for undefeated Japan, having a 1-2 record, thus relying on the tournament's tiebreaker coefficient to determine their fate. CHINESE TAIPEI - USA - Highlights

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - It begins for twelve and concludes for two, and on Thursday, at the commencement of the Super Round of the WBSC Premier12 world tournament sponsored by RAXUS, at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan and Venezuela indicated that they might be the two finalists in this third edition of the Premier12 tournament. On a cold night at the Tokyo Dome, Japan attacked Team USA with everything, to defeat the American team by a score of 9-1 and start the defense of its title on a good pace in this decisive stage of the tournament in view of the final this Sunday. Box score "The win that really matters is the one we achieved today," said Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata. "Of course, all the previous wins matter, they were achieved by other coaches and different players and they make us proud, but we are not focused on the streak - 25 consecutive wins by the Japanese squad in major international events - we want to concentrate on the next game to win it." It is certainly worth watching to admire the efficiency of the Japanese team. Although the squad doesn't seem focused on maintaining any streak—and let's be honest, all streaks eventually end—victories in any round of an international tournament simplify the task and pave the way forward. Since Japan's scare against the Cuban team last Saturday, November 17, when they narrowly defeated Cuba 7-6 after being tied at six runs in seven and a half innings, Japan has firmly established its favoritism. They scored 20 runs in their next two games with 25 hits, while limiting their opponents to just four runs and 14 hits, achieving convincing victories against the Dominican Republic and Team USA today. This Thursday followed the usual pattern. Both starting pitchers were impressive in the first four innings, with 44-year-old American veteran Rich Hill allowing just one hit, striking out five, and issuing no walks. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Japanese right-hander Hiroto Takahashi struck out eight, allowing two hits and a walk. In the fifth inning, Japan would eventually secure the win, its 25th consecutive victory in WBSC top-level international tournaments. “In my previous start against South Korea, my fastball and splitter were working well, but I couldn’t get a third pitch like my cutter or curveball to work,” Takahashi said during the press conference. “This time, all my pitches worked and I was able to adjust to the hitters without any problems.” Team USA struck first in the top of the fifth inning, when after Takahashi left the game, left-handed reliever Chihiro Sumida gave up a solo home run to left fielder Colby Thomas. Japan will answer quickly. Rich Hill left the mound after only 58 pitches—43 of them strikes—in a decision characteristic of modern baseball that defies logic. Japan capitalized on this "mistake" by American coach Mike Scioscia. "You don't have to look at his age. Rich still has talent, he can still play at the highest level," said Team USA manager Mike Scioscia anyway. "He gave us four solid innings." During the fifth inning against reliever Darrell Thompson, Sosuke Genda and Keita Sano hit singles, followed by Shogo Sakakura's double down the right field line, which tied the game. Shortly after, Sano mistakenly ran to the plate on a grounder to first baseman Masayuki Kuwahara. However, second baseman Kaito Kozono redeemed the error by hitting a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving Japan a 3-1 lead, which they maintained for the rest of the game. Japan would strike again just two innings later, when off the fourth American reliever, left-hander Austin Drury, Kozono hit a three-run homer to extend Japan's lead to 6-1. The night continued triumphantly for Kozono, the game's MVP, as he hit his second home run in the eighth inning, bringing in two runs and securing the final score of 9-1. Prior to Kozono's homer, Masayuki Kuwahara had extended Japan's lead to 7-1 with a single to center-field that drove in Ryota Isobata. Japan, whose main goal was to curtail the power of Team USA, the tournament's leading home run hitter with 9, successfully achieved this objective. Despite Thomas' home run, Japan's pitching, which included four relievers, looked immense against Team USA, leaving them with only 6 hits, two extra-base hits and striking out 16. Ultimately, the message was clear: Samurai Japan will be a tough team to beat at the Tokyo Dome. With unwavering support from their fans and flawless performance on the field, this team showcases the magic of having remained undefeated in international competitions since 2019. The streak will be in everyone's sights, when this Friday Samurai Japan faces Venezuela at 7:00 pm (local time), 5:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time). USA - JAPAN - Highlights Venezuela 2, Chinese Taipei 0 And in the afternoon, during the match that kicked off the Super Round, Venezuela scored a big win, beating Chinese Taipei 2-0 at the Tokyo Dome. The difference in the match was a two-run home run by Carlos Pérez in the fourth inning that gave the Venezuelans a definitive lead. Box score "I was looking for a breaking ball. He threw me a slider that hung just enough for me to make good contact," Pérez said after the game. With the win, the Venezuelan team, under manager Omar López, secured its fifth victory in six games in this competition, continuing a streak of success that will be tested this Friday when the team faces the still undefeated Japan. "I would say that pitch was the only mistake in a game in which both teams played very well," said the Venezuelan manager at the press conference. "Overall it was a great game. Chinese Taipei had a great chance to score in the fifth, but Pedro García was able to get the last out and get us out of the bases loaded jam." The win was marked by an eight-man shutout of Venezuelan pitching, with seven hits and 13 strikeouts. After the departure of starter Nivaldo Rodríguez, who struck out five and allowed only three hits in four innings, seven other pitchers saw work with Oddanier Mosqueda taking the win, after completing 1 2/3 scoreless innings between the eighth and ninth innings. Right-hander Enderson Franco was in charge of closing out the game, coming in with two outs in the ninth inning, striking out Kun-Yu Chiang for the save. Taipei's right-hander Huang Tzu-Peng took the loss after allowing Pérez's home run, completing 4 2/3 innings of five hits with three strikeouts and no walks. "I think you have to give credit to the hitter," said Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Ju Tseng. "Our starter pitched very well." And this Friday, in a clash of undefeated teams, Venezuela will battle Japan at night, 7:00 pm (local time) at the Tokyo Dome, and in the afternoon, 12:00 pm (local time), Chinese Taipei will seek its first victory, when it faces the loser of this opening day of the Super Round, Team USA. CHINESE TAIPEI - VENEZUELA - Highlights

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - With the same score with which Cuba beat Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Cubans once again defeated Australia, 4-3, in a hard-fought match that gave Cuba its first victory in Group B of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS, at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City on Saturday afternoon. Box score Indeed, it was a match in which both teams had chances to secure the win, but it was the Cubans who emerged victorious due to capitalizing on an offensive opportunity in the third inning and the solid performance of their bullpen, ensuring they did not relinquish the victory. Even though Cuba had fourteen runners on base and achieved 11 hits for the first time in the tournament, it was a single inning that determined the crucial victory needed to keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Super Round of the tournament. During the third inning, with Cuba trailing 2-1, Australia's first reliever, left-hander Blake Townsend, entered the game. A strategic move by Cuban coach Armando Johnson saw third baseman and ninth batter Jean H. Walters reach first base on an error and advance to third on a bunt single by Roel Santos. The next batter, right fielder Yadir Drake, took advantage of a 2-0 count to hit a home run off Townsend's pitch, changing the score with a three-run hit. This pivotal moment secured a Cuba's lead for the second time in the tournament, this time with a score of 4-2. "In that situation the most important thing was to try to hit a fly ball, if you make good contact what happened can happen," Drake told me about his home run during the press conference, adding "You have to mentally prepare yourself to bring it in - the run - no matter what." From that point forward, a fierce competition ensued between the two teams: Cuba striving to maintain their two-runs advantage, while Australia aimed to narrow the deficit. The game had started very badly for the Cubans. Australia put four runners on base in the first inning against 19-year-old starter Darío Sarduy. Aaron Whitefield, Robbie Glendinning, Rixon Wingrove and Darryl George recorded singles, the last two to drive in runs and give the Australians an early 2-0 lead. Cuba responded with a run off veteran right-hander Tim Atherton in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to consecutive singles by Roel Santos, Yadir Drake and an RBI single by Yoelkis Guibert. The inning could have extended further, but Atherton managed to strike out Alfredo Despaigne and then got Ariel Martínez out with a double play to finish the inning. During the second inning, the Australian team failed to extend their lead despite having the bases loaded against Cuba's first reliever, right-handed pitcher Andy Vargas. Vargas effectively kept the game close, giving his team opportunities to stage a comeback. Ultimately, Vargas completed 3 2/3 innings of relief, with his only blemish being a solo home run by Robbie Glendinning in the fifth inning. He recorded five strikeouts, one walk, and three hits allowed, securing his first victory with the Cuban national team. Vargas teamed up with four other relievers, that keep the Australians from scoring for 4 2/3 innings. In the seventh inning, Australia had a great chance to alter the score when the Cuban pitchers struggled. After one out, Frank. A. Alvarez, Geonel Gutierrez, and Leodan Reyes each walked a batter, loading the bases. Despite this, with two outs, Reyes successfully faced Alex Hall, who hit a hard ground ball that Yadil Mujica managed to reach just past second base, resulting in a crucial zero that was instrumental in securing the win. "We had many opportunities, including the seventh inning when we loaded the bases, but we could not take advantage of it," said Australian manager David Nilsson after the game. "I believe that was the moment that decisively shifted the game in Cuba's favor." Australia actually had plenty of opportunities, but couldn't find the decisive hit that would define the win. They twice left the bases loaded and put a total of 12 runners on base. The Cuban bullpen deserves credit for their outstanding performance alongside Vargas, as they limited Australia to only one hit and two walks for the remainder of the game, while also recording five strikeouts. Ultimately, relief pitcher Raidel Martínez capitalized on the chance to help his team. Raidel smoothly handled the ninth inning, retiring all batters he faced and recording two strikeouts to secure the save. Cuba's win has brought its tournament record to 1-2, matching Australia's. However, unlike their current rival, Cuba will now have to compete against the top-performing teams in the tournament: the undefeated Japan (3-0) and the host country, Chinese Taipei (2-1). Chinese Taipei lost their unbeaten record to Japan with a score of 3-1 on Saturday night. In the other match of the day, South Korea (2-2) came from behind to beat the Dominican Republic (1-3) 9-6. Following these results, Cuba's only remaining option in the tournament is to secure a victory and then rely on favorable outcomes during the tiebreaker process if a three-way tie for second place occurs. At present, the Cuban manager stated that they will approach each game individually. This Sunday at 6:00 pm (local time), 5:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time), the Cuban team will play against Japan at Tianmu Stadium. Right-hander Raymond Figueredo was announced to start. Furthermore, it is anticipated that should Cuba manage to maintain a tight score or potentially even hold an advantage against the Japanese team, left-handed pitcher Liván Moinelo will be prepared to step in as a reliever. RANKING (remaining games in parentheses) 1. Japan 3-0 (vs CUB, vs DOM) 2. Chinese Taipei 2-1 (vs AUS, vs CUB) 3. Australia 1-2 (vs TPE, vs KOR) 4. Cuba 1-2 (vs JPN, vs TPE) 5. Dominican Republic 1-3 (vs JPN) 6. South Korea 1-2 (vs AUS)

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - Cuba is set to play at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City this Saturday at 12:00 pm, aiming to secure a crucial win to stay alive in Group B of the tournament. The qualifying round of the WBSC Premier12 tournament will continue until next Monday. Following defeats of 6-1 to the Dominican Republic and 8-4 to South Korea, Cuba must secure a victory against Australia, a team known for their strong performance but has never been fortunate when facing Cuba. In the most recent Premier12 tournament, Australia suffered a 3-2 defeat against Cuba after 10 intense innings during the preliminary round for Group C held in South Korea. This match marked the first and only meeting between the two teams in Premier12 editions, with Liván Moinelo emerging as the winning pitcher for Cuba, securing their sole victory in the tournament. Australia's team has a new lineup this time around, including some experienced players like the designated starter for today, 35-year-old right-hander Tim Atherton. Atherton was part of the Australian team in the previous Premier12 edition, where they defeated the United States 2-1 during the Super Round, marking Australia's sole victory in that phase. The Australian team has several new offensive players, but one standout is Travis Bazzana, who plays as a leadoff and second baseman. At only 22 years old, he was the top pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2024 Draft, making history as the first Australian to achieve this. Bazzana made his debut in High Class A in July, hitting his first professional home run, a Grand Slam, on July 31st. Robbie Perkins, a seasoned player at 30 years old, has been a standout performer for Australia in this tournament, driving in four runs, all of which came during Australia's 5-0 victory against the Dominican Republic. Perkins also participated in the previous edition of the Premier12 in 2019. Starting for Cuba in the Premier12 tournament is the promising young left-handed talent Darío Sarduy from Villa Clara. At only 19 years old, Sarduy, the youngest player in the competition, recently celebrated his birthday on November 12. Affiliated with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Sarduy is part of the player development program and is set to make his debut on the international stage with the Cuban national team. Cuba's struggle in the Premier12 can be attributed mainly to their weak offense. They failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position against the Dominican Republic and 1-for-10 in the same scenario versus South Korea. After two games, the team's offensive line stands at .212/.333/.303, with just one significant alteration in the lineup: Yadil Mujica's replacement by Jean H. Walters, which did not yield significant outcomes. Cuban manager Armando Johnson has opted to implement significant changes to the lineup for today's game. This time, Erisbel Arruebarrena's poor performance - 9-0 with 4 strikeouts - as the third hitter has led to him being moved down to the sixth spot in the lineup. Meanwhile, Rafael Viñales, one of the players who hit a home run against South Korea, has been included in the starting lineup. Yoán Moncada, who is expected to miss the remainder of the tournament, has been replaced by Walters at third base and as the ninth batter. Mujica is back in the starting lineup at second base, Yadir Drake has been promoted to second, and Yoelkis Guibert will now hit third. Should Cuba lose to Australia, they will be knocked out of the running to advance to the Super Round as one of the top four teams in the tournament. However, if they emerge victorious, their slim chances will be revived, setting them up to face the top two teams in the world, Japan (2-0) and Chinese Taipei (2-0), who are both undefeated leading Group B and are scheduled to play against each other tonight at the Taipei Dome. Cuba and Australia last played in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In that match, Cuba narrowly won 4-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament. Its best finish in that event since 2006. Australia's last international win against Cuba was a 3-0 victory in the Super Round of the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup.

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - South Korea secured their third win against Cuba in the history of Premier12 world tournaments, by initiating a six-run rally against starter Liván Moinelo early in the game. They maintained their lead and claimed their first win in Group B of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City on Thursday night. Box score However, the standout player in the match was Kim Do-yeong, a 21-year-old third baseman who is an All-Star in the KBO league and is expected to be named MVP this season. This was his first appearance in the WBSC Premier12 tournament, and he made a significant impact by hitting his first two home runs for the national team, contributing with five RBIs. The third baseman playing for the Kia Tigers in the KBO hit a Grand Slam in the second inning off the Cuban starter, left-hander Liván Moinelo. This contributed to a six-run inning that effectively put Cuba at a disadvantage in the game. Shortly after the game, Kim expressed his satisfaction with his performance to the press, stating, "I'm pleased with how I played." He also acknowledged the challenges posed by the Cuban starter's fastball but was relieved that they were able to overcome it. While recognizing the importance of individual performances, Kim emphasized that the ultimate objective is to achieve victory as a team. Moinelo had a forgettable inning. The Cuban pitcher, known for securing two of Cuba's four wins in past Premier12 tournaments, struggled in the first inning. Despite starting with a walk, he redeemed himself by striking out Kim and Yoon Dong-hee after a sacrifice hit, showing that South Korea was eager to make an early impact against Cuba. But as had happened against the Dominican Republic just 24 hours earlier, after two outs, Korea scored all of its runs in the inning with an attack that included a double by Moon Bo-gyeong and hits by Park Seong-han and Choi Won-jun that brought in the first, a walk and a hit by a pitch to Shin Min-jae for 2-0. Minutes later, Kim's first of two home runs would come, as he fiercely hit a first pitch from Moinelo for his grand slam that suddenly put South Korea up 6-0. It was early, but the hit proved to be decisive. "Moinelo is not feeling well and he was still working under the effects of the flu," Cuban coach Armando Johnson said at the press conference. "This was possibly the cause of his poor performance in this game." Nevertheless, when asked if Moinelo would be starting in any of the three remaining Group B games for Cuba, Johnson replied, "Even though Moinelo may not be fully fit, he is ready to contribute in any capacity to support the team. I trust that we can utilize him when needed and in other scenarios if required,"  he concluded. On the second night in a row, the Cuban batters found themselves unable to score against the starting pitcher. KBO Doosan Bears' right-hander Been Gwak, who topped the league with 15 wins this season, showcased his pitching arsenal featuring a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a mix of sliders, curves, and changeups to hold Cuba without a run for the initial four innings. Despite this, the Cuban team had chances to capitalize on but failed to convert them into runs. Following two scoreless innings for the Cuban's batters, Gwak conceded hits to Yoelkis Guibert and Roel Santos in the third inning. However, he managed to overpower Yoán Moncada with a fly ball to deep right-center, bringing the inning to a close. In the fourth inning, Cuba advanced runners with a walk to Alfredo Despaigne and a single by Ariel Martínez, but Gwak managed to stop the threat by getting Yadir Drake out on a ground ball double play, with only one out. In the fifth inning, Gwak issued walks to the first two batters before exiting the game due to a blister on his right hand. Despite not being eligible for the win, he managed to strike out five Cuban batters and maintain the score for four innings despite giving up three hits and three walks. Subsequently, right-handed reliever So Hyeong-jun successfully navigated the inning without conceding a run, even though he loaded the bases following a hit by pitch to Moncada amidst Cuba's offensive threat. The Cuban third baseman had to exit the game. I asked about his well-being, and the Cuban manager said "Moncada had swelling in his right hand from the impact, preventing him from continuing in the match," adding "There is no fracture on his hand and I hope he can recover, particularly after a day of rest on Friday."  The Cuban manager also emphasized the importance of Moncada to the team, the coach stressed the need to prioritize his health and safeguard his future in the sport by not rushing his return. Korea extended its lead in the sixth inning. Right-hander Yusniel Padrón, who replaced Moinelo in the third inning and blanked Korea for three innings, walked Na Seung-yeup to start the sixth and was replaced by Pavel Hernández. But Na's steal of second and Choi Won-jun's single to right with two outs increased the Korean lead to 7-0. Finally, the Cuban bats broke a nine-inning streak of scoreless innings in the tournament, scoring one in the seventh inning off reliever Lee Young-ha. Cuba loaded the bases with no outs on an infield hit by Yadiel Mujica and two errors by the Korean defense. But, although Lee got two outs, retiring Roberto Baldoquín - who came in for Moncada - and Erisbel Arruebarrena, Despaigne's infield single put Cuba on the scoreboard with Mujica scoring from third. However, the star of the night, Kim, responded quickly by restoring the seven-run Korean lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with his second homer of the night, this one a solo shot off reliever Pavel Hernandez. Cuba responded in the bottom of the eighth inning scoring three runs. Against the 19-year-old reliever, Kim Taek-yeon, the right-handed closer for the KBO Bears, Drake started the inning with a single to right field and Yoelkis Guibert followed with a two-run homer to right. This marked Cuba's first extra-base hit in the tournament. Shortly after, Rafael Viñales, who had taken over as catcher in the seventh inning, contributed a solo home run to left field, completing a three-run surge in the inning. "It's a fact that some of our best hitters are not performing up to expectations," Armando Johnson said. "Tonight our best pitcher couldn't get the job done. But one positive thing I'm glad about is that we were able to react and recover offensively late in the game." Despite scoring four runs, Cuba's offense was disappointing in the game. The team had several chances, with 12 men reaching base, but they only managed to go 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Arruebarrena, in particular, has struggled, going 0-for-9 in the tournament with four strikeouts while batting third. In this game, the Matanzas native went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and left the bases loaded in both the 5th and 7th innings. His struggles continued in the 8th inning with another strikeout. To improve their chances against Australia, the Cuban manager must consider making changes to this crucial part of the lineup. Although South Korea's relief pitching allowed four runs on the night, 21-year-old closer Park Yeong-hyun of the KBO's KT Wiz, who saved 25 games this season with 10 wins, sealed Korea's victory by recording two strikeouts in a dominant ninth inning. Now, as South Korea (1-1) prepares to play the Asian classic against Japan (1-0) this Friday at the Taipei Dome, Cuba (0-2) will rest to seek a necessary first win against Australia (0-1) on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. (local time), 11:00 a.m., Cuban and Eastern US time. Similar to the 2023 World Classic, when Cuba began with losses in their first two games, the team will aim to replicate the accomplishment of qualifying to the Super Round. However, to achieve this, they must not only defeat the consistently challenging Australia but also secure wins against formidable opponents like Japan (ranked No. 1 globally) and Chinese Taipei (ranked No. 2 and serving as the tournament's host). CUBA - SOUTH KOREA - Highlights

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - The Dominican Republic overcame a 1-0 deficit by scoring late against Cuba. Their bullpen delivered three solid innings as the neighboring Caribbean team secured a crucial first victory with a 6-1 win in the opening game of Group B in the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS. The game took place at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City on Wednesday night. Box score In a game where the Cuban offense failed to show up, stranding ten runners on base and going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, the Dominican Republic capitalized on the opportunities provided by a struggling Cuban relief pitching to emerge victorious in a significant match for the Cuban team. The Cubans find themselves in a challenging situation after the defeat, as they are set to play against South Korea at the Tianmu Stadium on Thursday. South Korea has been their nemesis in previous Premier12 editions, and the Cubans are aiming to prevent starting the tournament with two consecutive losses. The extensive discussion regarding Armando Johnson's decision not to start the first game for Cuba with star pitcher Liván Moinelo was put to rest. Yoennis Yera, the Cuban starter, delivered an outstanding performance against the Dominicans by pitching six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, no walks, and only five hits. This exceptional display dispelled any doubts about his selection, effectively ending the debate. By the end of the fifth inning, Yera had been effective, throwing 60 pitches, 43 of which were strikes. He had only given up two hits and no walks. Despite this, he had not achieved any progress towards securing a win. Even after completing six innings with 70 pitches, during which he allowed three hits and recorded five strikeouts, the score remained deadlocked at zero. Yera later revealed to the online Cuban publication Jit about his outing "I concentrated on each batter and every pitch, which is how I achieved success. I relied on targeting the strike zone of each batter, as I was familiar with some but not all of them. My focus was on putting in the effort, and it paid off." Right after leaving the game, Cuba's offense set him up for a potential victory. In the sixth inning, facing Wily Peralta Alfredo Despaigne secured his second hit of the game, a single on Peralta's 78th pitch that resulted in Peralta being replaced. Gerald Ogando's entry into the game added complexity as he hit Ariel Martinez and allowed a single to Yadir Drake, loading the bases and leading to another call to the Dominican bullpen. Former MLB reliever Joely Rodriguez entered the game. While facing Yoelkis Guibert, he threw a wild pitch that allowed Despaigne to score from third, resulting in the first run of the game. Despite the 1-0 score, Joely managed to effectively handle the two left-handed batters he faced. Initially, he struck out Guibert, and then, after intentionally walking Perez, he efficiently managed Mujica by getting him to hit a ground ball to first base. After the game, Peralta would say about his start against Cuba “It was an excellent game and both starters did an excellent job. In the first innings it wasn’t as I would have liked, they – the Cuban hitters – managed to make great contacts, but I had the opportunity to make adjustments and throw a quality start.” To a question I asked him about his work with the two strikeouts against Yoán Moncada, especially in the fifth inning, when Cuba had the opportunity to take the lead, Peralta responded “ It was extremely important for me, since I have faced him a lot. I had a plan from the beginning, on how to attack him and I was going to die with my best pitch in that situation.” Indeed, the Cuban team appeared to be proactive in their offensive efforts against the Dominican starting pitcher from the beginning. They successfully got three runners on base within the first two innings, with one of them in a scoring position during the first inning. The solid hits made it seem like Peralta's time on the mound could be limited. Nevertheless, after five innings, the score stayed the same, with the Dominican right-handed pitcher excelling in crucial situations, having allowed five runners on base, two of whom reached scoring position. Following Yera's departure, Leodan Reyes took over as the first Cuban reliever. He began the seventh inning strongly by retiring the first two batters, striking out one. However, things took a turn for the worse when Reyes walked Pedro González. After a grueling fifteen-pitch battle against Ricardo Céspedes, he also ended up walking him, placing the tying run on second base. Shortly after, the pivotal hit that changed the score occurred. Pinch-hitter Arismendy Alcántara delivered a single to center field, bringing in the tying run with González and the go-ahead run following an error by Yoelkis Guibert in center field. Regarding Céspedes' turn at bat, the Dominican mentor himself, Cesar Martín, said after the game "It was one of the key moments of the game, the battle that Céspedes put up, allowing the pinch-hitter Alcántara to come in later with his hit." Trailing 2-1, Cuba missed a significant chance in the seventh inning. Joely began the inning by walking Santos and allowing a single from Moncada to center field. However, facing the new pitcher, right-hander Robert Corniel, Arruebarena struck out first, followed by Despaigne grounding into a double play via 543, marking another crucial moment in the game. For many, including myself, this was one of those occasions where the team could have sacrificed Arruebarrena to advance the runners. The play could have prevented a double play with Despaigne at bat and both runners in scoring position, while also prolonging Cuba's batting order. In the eighth and ninth innings, the Dominican Republic would secure the final score by taking advantage of the ineffective Cuban relief pitching. In the eighth inning, Frank A. Alvarez, who was brought in from the bullpen, efficiently recorded two outs but then issued a walk. He then conceded a ground-rule double to right field by Andretty Cordero, followed by an RBI single to the left by Rainer Nunez. Although the situation could have escalated, Yankiel Mauris ended the inning with just one pitch, inducing Gonzalez to ground out to third base. In the ninth, three runs against Yankiel Mauris would seal the final score. The Dominican relief pitching took charge from there, shutting down the Cuban offense. Thanks to the combined efforts of Robert Corniel and Diego Castillo, they delivered three impressive scoreless innings, preventing the Cubans from having any hits and enabling their offense to maintain pressure, securing the crucial first victory. Joely Rodriguez, with his work of just 2/3 innings of one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts, took the win, while Leodan Reyes took the loss, Cuba's sixth in 10 games in Premier12 editions. After the tough defeat, Team Cuba must turn the page, to face a tough rival in South Korea this Thursday. The match is scheduled for 6:00 pm (local time), 5:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time). REPUBLICA DOMINICANA - CUBA - Highlights

Enrique Rojas of ESPN Digital reports that the WBSC Americas (World Baseball and Softball Confederation of the Americas) is getting ready to launch the inaugural Copa América de Béisbol in 2025. Based on Rojas' information, the tournament is intended to serve as a qualifying competition for global competitions like the Olympics, as well as regional and worldwide events, while also considering future installments of the World Baseball Classic. The initial plan is to host the inaugural edition in November of the following year, in a tournament similar to the WBSC Premier12 starting this Saturday and that takes place every four years. This event will feature the top 12 teams from the American continent. Rojas highlights that Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and the United States are the top contenders to host the first edition. As per the WBSC World Rankings released on September 18, the top 12 teams in the Americas are currently Mexico (No. 2), Venezuela (No. 4), United States (No. 5), Puerto Rico (No. 8), Cuba (No. 9), Panama (No. 10), Colombia (No. 11), Dominican Republic (No. 12), Nicaragua (No. 16), Canada (No. 22), Brazil (No. 24), and Curacao (No. 29). Any potential changes to the list of participants can only occur after the Premier12 concludes. In the past, the now-defunct IBAF and the current WBSC have organized regional qualifying tournaments for global events like the Olympic Games or the World Baseball Classic. However, none of these tournaments have come close to what this event has the potential to provide.

In the seventh warm-up game leading up to the WBSC Premier12 2024, the Cuban national team secured a 6-5 win over Taiwan Life Aloong from the Taipei Industrial League at the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium on Tuesday, ahead of the tournament starting this Saturday. Taiwan Life Aloong, a semi-professional team under CTFC Financial, the parent company of the CTBC Brothers team in the Taiwan Professional League (CPBL). Cuba will face the professional CTBC Brothers in two matches on Wednesday and Thursday. These matches are part of the Taichung Shopping Festival and will kick off at 6:35 pm local time. The Cubans secured a 6-5 win, largely credited to starter Pavel Hernández's performance. Hernández delivered the lengthiest start by a Cuban pitcher during this preparatory tour, pitching five innings, allowing only one run on four hits, and striking out four batters. This victory brings the Cubans' current stage record to 4-3. In addition to Hernández, pitchers Andy Vargas, Frank L. Medina, Leodán Reyes, Geonel Gutiérrez and Frank A. Álvarez also worked, the latter earning the save. In the sixth inning, Vargas struggled as Taiwan Life Aloong scored four runs. Frank L. Medina pitched the seventh inning smoothly, holding onto a 6-5 lead. However, he was replaced in the eighth inning after giving up a single. Geonel Gutiérrez faced a challenging situation with interference from Cuban catcher Andy Cosme, but Leodán Reyes stepped in and prevented further damage by striking out the side. Frank A. Álvarez secured the victory with a scoreless ninth inning. All of Cuba's runs were scored in the first inning, driven in by Erisbel Arruebarrena, Lázaro Armenteros, Andy Cosme (2), Roberto Baldoquín, and Yadil Mujica. After that initial burst, the team's offense was quiet for the remainder of the game, prompting coach Armando Johnson to seize the opportunity to use substitute players. For this Wednesday, against CTBC Brothers, the Cuban mentor announced left-hander Yoennis Yera as the starter. Jean Harvi Walters, RF: 0-for-3 Yoán Moncada, 3B: 1-for-3 Erisbel Arruebarrena, SS: 2-for-4 (RBI) Alfredo Despaigne, BD: 0-for-4 Rafael Viñales, LF: 0-for-2 Lázaro Armenteros, CF: 2-for-3 (double) (RBI) Roberto Baldoquín, 1B: 1-for-4 (RBI) Andy Cosme, C: 1-for-3 (2 RBI) Yadil Mujica, 2B: 1-for-3 (RBI) Christian Rodríguez, SS: 0-for-1 In addition, as a part of the Cuban team's preparation, they will compete in two matches against the Taiwan national team in Taipei city. Both teams are in Group B of the world tournament qualifying stage, along with the national teams of the Dominican Republic, Australia, South Korea, and the defending champion, Japan. The preliminary stage of the tournament will take place in Taiwan from November 13 to 18 as the host country. The two best teams in the group will advance to the Super Round, which will be played in Tokyo from November 21 to 24. South Korea won the inaugural Premier12 title in 2015 and finished second behind Japan in 2019, events in which Cuba finished 6th and 10th, respectively. On both occasions, the Cuban team was eliminated by South Korea.

The Cuban roster for the WBSC Premier12 2024 world tournament was revealed on Saturday, following Cuba's second match against South Korea in Seoul. This game was part of the teams' preparation for the upcoming World Cup tournament to begin next Saturday. Cuba's mentor, Mr. Armando Johnson, revealed a squad of 28 men, which includes thirteen pitchers, four of them being left-handed. Notably, the team has welcomed Japanese league standouts Liván Moinelo and closer Raidel Martínez. Mentor Johnson explained that following the absence of pitchers Ronald Bolaños and Yoán López, the decision was made to add right-hander Pavel Hernández to the pitching staff. The rest of the team is made up of three catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Out of the group that was announced, only three players - pitchers Liván Moinelo and Yoennis Yera, and outfielder Alfredo Despaigne - have taken part in the two previous editions of the tournament. Another five players have previous experience from the 2019 edition of the Premier12, including pitcher Raidel Martínez, infielders Ariel Martínez and Erisbel Arruebarruena, and outfielders Yoelkis Guibert and Roel Santos. The Cuban team has just arrived in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, and is scheduled to play three warm-up matches on November 5, 6, and 7. Among these games, two will be against the CTBC Brothers on the 6th and 7th as part of the Taichung Shopping Festival. All matches are set to start at 6:35 pm local time, which is equivalent to 5:35 am in Cuba and the Eastern US time zone. The team will next head to Taipei City with the intention of playing two games against the Chinese Taipei national team participating in the Premier12 tournament. Both teams, as well as Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic, are grouped together in Group B for the world tournament. Chinese Taipei will be hosting the preliminary stage of the tournament, scheduled to take place from November 13 to 18. The Super Round will take place in Tokyo from November 21 to 24, with the group's top two teams progressing to this stage. South Korea won the inaugural Premier12 title in 2015 and finished second behind Japan in 2019, events in which Cuba finished 6th and 10th, respectively. On both occasions, the Cuban team was eliminated by South Korea. 2024 WBSC Premier12 - Cuba Roster Pitchers (13):   Liván Moinelo Pita (LHP) (2015 y 2019) , Raidel Martínez Pérez (2019) , Leodán Manuel Reyes Lugo, Yoennis Yera Montalvo (LHP) (2015 y 2019) , Geonel Gutiérrez Jiménez (LHP), Yankiel Mauris Gutiérrez, Frank Abel Álvarez Díaz, Raymond Figueredo Cruz, Andy Vargas Lescaille, Frank Luis Medina García, Darío Sarduy Medina (LHP), Yusniel Padrón Artiles, and Pavel Hernández Bruce. Catchers (3): Andrys Pérez García, Andy Yaniel Cosme Oliva, and Rafael Viñales Álvarez. Infielders (7): Ariel Martínez Marrero (2019) , Bárbaro Erisbel Arruebarruena Escalante (2019) , Christian Leandro Rodríguez García, Yoan Moncada Olivera, Roberto Súliban Baldoquín Martínez, Yadil Orestes Mujica Díaz, and Jean Harvi Walters Valdés. Outfielders (5): Yoelkis Guibert Steven (2019) , Lázaro Robersy Armenteros Arango, Alfredo Despaigne Rodríguez (2015 y 2019) , Roel Santos Martínez (2019) , and Yadir Drake Domínguez.

In the second preparatory game for the Premier12 World Cup tournament, South Korea secured a dominant 13-3 victory over Cuba at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Saturday afternoon. The match saw Cuban volleyball player Gyselle Silva, who competes professionally in South Korea, throwing the first pitch of the game. South Korea collected 14 hits to secure a convincing victory in front of a full crowd of 16,100 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul during the second of two exhibition games against Cuba. South Korea emerged victorious in Friday's match against Cuba, securing a 2-0 win as eight pitchers collaborated for a three-hit shutout. The dynamics shifted significantly in the second game, as South Korea amassed eight extra-base hits while Cuba managed 11 hits. Yoon Dong-hee produced the first run of the game for South Korea, by hitting a solo home run against reliever Raymond Figueredo in the second inning. Cuba equalized the score when Yoelquis Guibert hit a solo home run off Ko Young-pyo, who was South Korea's first reliever, in the third inning. South Korea quickly answered by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning against the third Cuban reliever, Yusniel Padron. The rally included an RBI double by Park Seong-han, an RBI single by Hong Chang-ki, and a run-scoring double by Song Sung-mun. Cuba narrowed the margin to 4-2 after scoring a run in the fifth inning off the right-handed reliever Um S. B. A walk to Yadil Mujica, a ground ball hit by Guibert advanced him to second base, and a single by Yoán Moncada that allowed him to score. In the seventh inning, despite two outs, Cuba persevered and managed to score a run against left-hander Choi J. M. The Cubans drew a walk with Mujica, who was then substituted by Jeans Hardy as a pinch runner, followed by two singles that resulted in a 5-3 game. This marked the final time the Cuban team would score in the game. With a 5-3 lead after seven innings, South Korea extended their advantage by scoring eight runs against three relievers in the eighth inning. Following Na Seung-yeup's single to make it a 6-3 game, South Korea scored three other runs upon loading the bases. Later in the inning, South Korea once again loaded the bases, resulting in Shin Min-jae and Choi Won-jun each driving in two runs to extend their lead to 13-3. Cuba's left-handed pitcher Darío Sarduy began the game and smoothly finished the first inning, demonstrating his capability to be a key member of Cuba's rotation in the Premier12 tournament. His left-handed pitching arm is particularly valuable against a Korean team that often has up to seven left-handed batters in their lineup. Choi Seung-yong, the starting pitcher for South Korea, pitched two scoreless innings, and the remaining seven innings were handled by six relievers who allowed eight hits. Cuba completed the initial stage of its preparatory tour in Chinese Taipei and South Korea with a 3-3 record. This demonstrates that, even without all the usual players, the team has much potential to develop those who have less exposure to this level of competition. The team is required to depart for Chinese Taipei this Sunday in order to complete their preparation, including matches in Taichung and Taipei, before starting their journey through Group B of the Premier12 on November 13, where they will play against the Dominican Republic. In Group B of the Premier12 tournament, South Korea and Cuba are joined by Japan, Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Chinese Taipei, which is the host nation for the preliminary stage taking place from November 13 to 18. The top two teams in the group will progress to the Super Round scheduled to take place in Tokyo from November 21 to 24. South Korea emerged as the champions of the first Premier12 tournament in 2015 and secured the second position in 2019, coming behind Japan. During those editions, Cuba placed 6th and 10th, respectively, with South Korea eliminating the Cuban team on both occasions.